Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease. CAD is caused by a build-up of fatty substances called plaque in the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen and other nutrients. As CAD progresses it "starves" heart muscle of oxygen and can lead to a heart attack. A heart attack (also called acute myocardial infarction or AMI) is a serious condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a diseased artery. This blockage prevents blood from reaching the heart and causes part of the heart muscle to die. Heart attacks can be prevented if people with heart attack symptoms get to the emergency department right away, so lifesaving care can be rapidly delivered to restore blood flow to the heart.

Heart failure is a condition that results in weakened heart muscle. Common causes of heart failure are high blood pressure, coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, or cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle). When the heart muscle is weakened it cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body. To improve the pumping of the heart, the body holds onto extra salt and fluid. This process enlarges the heart and worsens heart function. As fluid collects in the lungs and other tissues of the body, people with heart failure develop shortness of breath or awaken during the night feeling short of breath. Other signs of heart failure include weight gain, swelling in the feet, ankles, or stomach, rapid or irregular heart beat, fatigue, or loss of appetite.

Pneumonia is an infection or inflammation that fills the lungs with fluid, lowering the oxygen level in the blood. Symptoms of pneumonia can include fever, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chills, cough, and chest pain.

Recent studies have shown that a preventive intravenous (IV) dose of the right antibiotic within one hour prior to the time of the incision may decrease the risk of developing an infection at the surgical site. It is also important that the preventive antibiotic be discontinued soon after surgery. This can reduce the potential for bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. Otherwise, the antibiotics may become less effective or cause other problems related to overuse of antibiotics.

Improving the quality of care is a core mission of Bridgeport Hospital. One method we use for reporting patient satisfaction is through HCAHPS. HCAHPS is an acronym for "Hospital Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems" survey. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed this survey instrument to collect information on hospital patients' perspectives of the care they received while in the hospital. The survey asks patients about their experience with care during a recent overnight stay in the hospital.